Greeters: Chris Mehaffey, John Mock, & Jim Stewart
Speaker Host: Steve McCollister
Speaker: Mika Mizrahi, Israel Defense Force
Location Alert: Back to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Trinity Function Hall
113 N. 18th St., Omaha, NE 68102
Remember to enter through the red door between 17th & 18th Streets
03/06/24 Menu: Buffet of Beef Brisket, Baked Chicken, Potato Salad, Healthy Sweet Kale Salad, Ciabatta Bread with Grass-Fed Butter from New Zealand
Lunch price: $14 for members, $17 for visiting Rotarians and guests. Note the price increase in lunch. We are still the best deal for Rotary lunch in the metro.
Mika Mizrahi Life in Israel & Israel Defense Force
Mika Mizrahi, at the young age of 23, is Israel's Shlicha or emissary to Omaha, a position earned through a highly competitive selection process by the Jewish Agency For Israel. Born and raised in Israel, Mika brings a unique perspective shaped by her diverse experiences, including over three years of service in the Israel Defense Force (IDF), where she achieved the rank of lieutenant.
In her application to become a Shlicha, Mika expressed her desire to present Israel through her eyes, showcasing its innovation, culture, music, food, and the diverse people who inhabit the country. She aims to dispel misconceptions perpetuated by the media, offering a nuanced and authentic portrayal of the Israeli community.
Mika's arrival in Omaha coincided with the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, a stark reminder of the challenges her homeland faces. Having lived through the attack and its aftermath, Mika brings a personal connection to the impact it had on her friends, relatives, and military colleagues.
Following her graduation from high school in 2019, Mika dedicated over three years to the IDF, where she commanded a unit of 12 soldiers, overseeing human resource matters and field education. Subsequently, she ventured into the hospitality industry before enrolling in the Leadership Program of the Jewish Agency for Israel, leading to her selection as a Shlicha.
Mika Mizrahi's presence in Omaha is not just a diplomatic assignment; it's an opportunity for our community to engage with a young and experienced individual who embodies the spirit of Israel. We are honored to welcome Mika for a two-year stay, during which she will share her insights, foster cultural exchange, and contribute to building bridges between our communities.
Recently, President Larry Guenther introduced returning Rotarian Gene Kowel. Gene was previously a member of the Rotary Club of Savannah, Georgia. Hal Daub sponsored Gene. Gene Kowel is the FBI's Special Agent in Charge of the Omaha Field Office.
Director Christopher Wray named Eugene S. Kowel the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office in October 2020. Mr. Kowel leads FBI agents, analysts, task force officers, and mission support staff throughout Nebraska and Iowa from the main field office in Omaha and eight satellite offices. Mr. Kowel joined the FBI as a Special Agent in 2005 and was assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force in the New York Field Office, where he led Criminal and Counterterrorism investigations. He completed deployments to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2009 in support of the FBI’s counterterrorism mission.
Mr. Kowel was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent in 2010 and worked in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters. In 2011, Mr. Kowel was selected as a Unit Chief in the International Terrorism Operations Section. In 2013, Mr. Kowel was named the Supervisory Senior Resident Agent leading the Savannah and Brunswick Resident Agencies (RAs) in Georgia, under the Atlanta Field Office.
Mr. Kowel was promoted in 2016 as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the Los Angeles Field Office. He led ten squads investigating Violent Gangs, Transnational Organized Crime, Violent Crime, and Crimes Against Children. In 2019, he was selected as the Chief of Staff and Section Chief in the Intelligence Branch.
Mr. Kowel graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Political and Social Thought and earned his law degree from the New York University School of Law. Mr. Kowel served as an Assistant District Attorney leading criminal prosecutions in New York City before joining the FBI. He previously served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Virginia. Mr. Kowel and his wife Elysia have four children: Shaina, Talia, Abraham, and Levi.
Last weekend, the Rotary Clubs of Omaha, Omaha Suburban, and Omaha West joined forces to fund and assemble an impressive total of over 42,000 meals for Heartland Kids Against Hunger. This remarkable endeavor wouldn't have been possible without the dedication and support of over 120 Rotarians, their families, and friends who generously volunteered their time and energy to package these meals.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all those who contributed to the Service Fund and those who actively participated in the packaging process. Your generosity and commitment to service have made a significant impact on addressing hunger in our community.
To commemorate this inspiring event, here are some snapshots capturing the moments of collaboration and goodwill:
Rotarians promoted mental health, protected mangrove forests, and helped Indigenous young people increase their economic opportunities
By Etelka Lehoczky
Rotary recognized six extraordinary members as People of Action: Champions of Impact in January. This distinction celebrates the honorees’ successes in projects that have had positive, long-term impact. Their work relates to several of Rotary’s areas of focus, including fighting disease, growing local economies, and protecting the environment.
Rita Aggarwal Rotary Club of Nagpur, Maharashtra, India Project: Wellness in a Box—Nagpur
Rita Aggarwal has been a consulting psychologist for 35 years. In 1992 she established Manodaya, a private mental health clinic in central India. She is an officer of the Mental Health Initiatives Rotary Action Group.
Steve Dudenhoefer Rotary Club of Puerto Barrios, Izabal, Guatemala Project: Guatemalan Tomorrow Fund
Steve Dudenhoefer founded the Guatemalan Tomorrow Fund and Asociación Ak’ Tenamit 33 years ago, after selling his business in the US and moving to Guatemala to serve as a full-time volunteer accompanying rural Indigenous Central American communities in their sustainable development processes.
Amal El-Sisi Rotary Club of El Tahrir, Egypt Project: Heart2Heart
Amal El-Sisi is a longtime Rotarian, professor of pediatrics, and a member of The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers. For four years, El-Sisi led Heart2Heart, which helps children in remote parts of Egypt, Kenya, Libya, and Yemen who have heart conditions. El-Sisi recruited 30 local Rotary clubs and 10 clubs in other countries to collaborate on the project. Rotary members also raised funds and secured global grants for the project and used surveys of community members and care providers to measure its success.
Evangeline Buella Mandia Rotary Club of Marinduque North, Marinduque, Philippines Project: Mangrove Rehabilitation and Aqua-silviculture Project
Evangeline Buella Mandia is the club Foundation chair and a past president of the Rotary Club of Marinduque North and dean of the College of Environmental Studies at Marinduque State College, in Marinduque, Philippines. She is a member of The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers.
Bindi Rajasegaran Rotary Club of Ipoh Central, Perak, Malaysia Project: National Coalition for Mental Wellbeing
Bindi Rajasegaran is a past Rotary club president and past governor of District 3300. A member of the Advisory Council to Malaysia’s Ministry of Health, she helped establish the National Coalition for Mental Wellbeing in 2019. Rajasegaran’s project addressed youth mental health. A study found that more than 400,000 children in Malaysia have mental health problems, but many do not seek care. Family and societal pressures, bullying, and loneliness all contribute to poor mental health.
Walley Temple Rotary Club of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Project: Towards the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Guatemala
Walley J. Temple is a professor emeritus in the Departments of Oncology and Surgery at the University of Calgary and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. He established a Royal College-approved training program in surgical oncology that has drawn trainees from around the world.
We will be back at Trinity starting February 7. We are grateful to Vanessa Clark for accommodating us at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Remember to enter through the red door between 17th & 18th streets.
Rotarians are making a difference at Stephen Center. CLICK HERE to sign up.
Stephen Center partners with the community, families, and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction, and poverty. Stephen Center has served the homeless and low-income in Omaha since 1984 through its three programs: Emergency Shelter, HERO Program, and Transitional Living Program. The Omaha Downtown Rotary partners with Stephens Center in serving hot meals to its residents.
Pictured here are the January volunteers L to R:Mike Mancuso, Fletcher Reel, Steve McCollister, Scott Kinnaird, Colleen Brennan (Future Rotarian), Franco Gentile, Jim Stewart, and another Future Rotarian.
The Rotary Club of Omaha is now recruiting more members! It's your opportunity to join the Rotary Club of Omaha, click here to complete the membership application form. For questions, please contact Membership Chair Franco Gentile at FGentile@sbgtv.com.
Brad Burklund
Paul Cohen Hal Daub
Gene DeBoer Dianne Desler
John Ewing
Viv Ewing
Brett Frevert
Dawn Gonzales
Okley Gibbs
Fr. Lloyd Gnirk
Tom Gouttierre
Larry Guenther Bill Harvey
Gretchen Harvey
Yolanda Hoffman
Bob Keefer
Susan Koesters
Heather Legge
Sandy Lemke
Adam Leong
John Marburger
Steve McCollister
Heidi McGinness
Camille Metoyer-Moten
Lloyd Meyer
John Mock
Jim Murphy
Fletcher Reel
Jim Scott-Miller
Mike Schlickbernd
Deb Skinner
Jim Stewart
Jim Suttle
LeRoy Swedlund
Lisa Tonjes Moritz
Michelle Trawick
Recently, President Larry Guenther introduced returning Rotarian Gene Kowel. Gene was previously a member of the Rotary Club of Savannah, Georgia. Hal Daub sponsored Gene. Gene Kowel is the FBI's Special Agent in Charge of the Omaha Field Office.
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